Our Faculty

Sally Aversa

Member - Distance Learning Faculty
Graduate Certified Appraiser (GCA), College For Appraisers
MCA, College For Appraisers
A.A., East Los Angeles College

Sally is a long-time collector of Victorian jewelry and boxes. She and her husband, Mike, operate a successful Estate Sales and Appraisal service in Southern California.Sally is pictured here with her husband Mike Aversa.

Belinda Belisle

Belinda is an award-winning lace-maker, restorer, and appraiser. She has studied and collected antique textiles for over 25 years. She is a member of International Old Lace, Inc., The London Lace Guild, The Wearable Art Guild, Textile Museum Associates of So. Calif., Old Colonial Coverlet Guild, the Textile and Costume Guild, and American Institute for Conservation of Historic & Artistic Works (AIC). Belinda has a BA degree with specialization in textiles. She has completed coursework in collections care, coverlet identification and restoration. She designed and teaches the Textiles Certificate Program.

William Belisle

Bill is chair of CFA's Fine Arts Program. He is an expert in original prints of all types, an avid collector of art and antiques, and has received training in Fine Arts Restoration in England. He is a successful dealer and has expertise in silver as well as fine arts. He teaches the Fine Arts Appraising Program.

Jerelyn Cobb

Jerelyn is the collectors' collector. She has vast historic collections of kitchenware, baskets, textiles and ephemera. Her collection of 19th and 20th century Valentine's cards has earned her the title "Queen of Hearts." She is a focused and very popular teacher who has taught home economics in the past, and now teaches the Early Americana course. She also does estate sales, shows, swap meets, and coordinates major rummage sales for fortunate non-profits.

Dr. Roger Cook, PhD

Roger has been an “automobilist” since cars started “following him home” when he was just a young boy. He has been assembling and appraising cars for over 55 years. He is a musician and song writer and an award-winning filmmaker. He has produced over 300 training videos in all aspects of automobile repair (most recently producing a training video with legendary car restorer, Gene Winfield, “Painting the Winfield Way”), and also produced training videos in music and antique instrument restoration. He is a member of the North American Academy of Arts & Sciences, Guild of American Luthiers, Association of String Instrument Artisans, several antique car clubs, is an avid antique car and musical instrument collector. Roger teaches Auto Appraising.

Mischa Dobrotin

Member - Distance Learning Faculty
A.A., Pasadena City College
B.S., University of California, Los Angeles

Mischa spent his early years in Yosemite National Park and on his family ranch in Ramona. He is an expert in early farm tools, metals and metal working, American Indian artifacts, jewelry, and Early Americana. He developed and teaches both the Metals of Antiques and Early Americana courses. His knowledge is vast, and he is a uniquely popular teacher.